Working in the software industry is a real joyride. I love watching how new technologies emerge and shape the products available to consumers. But the ever-changing technical environment forces writers to constantly learn new skills.
At times the pace of such changes can be overwhelming. So, what skills will technical writers need in the near future to keep up?
Multimedia
Demo tools such as Camtasia are becoming increasingly popular in the user assistance world. Often these tools are used to create full-blown tutorials with voice-overs. Technical writers will not only need to learn how to record demos effectively, but also how to integrate them into help and other delivery platforms.
XML and XSLT
Many of us are using DITA or DocBook already to create multiple deliverables from XML source content. However, authoring tools are adapting to these standards and WYSIWYG editors are available for XML content. The true benefit of learning XML and XSLT will be the ability to work "under the hood" on XML-based content. Also, now that many of our tools use XML as a native document format (such as Word documents, RoboHelp project files, etc.), writers who can work under the hood will be able to troubleshoot corruption issues, create custom translations for automatically generating documents in these formats, and more.
Search optimization
There is a gaping semantic void between how users think and how writers write. Even the most robust help system will be of little use if users cannot find the content they are looking for. The effectiveness of help can be drastically improved by researching what language users enter into the search field, and by mapping the help content to the existing understanding of users.
Server-based scripts
Help content is slowly migrating to the Internet. This allows help authors to implement functionality that isn't available for locally installed help. Scripting languages such as ASP, JSP, and AJAX will allow future help authors to take advantage of the server and create help that integrates more heavily with stored user data, web tools from other vendors, and more.
User generated content
As user forums and wikis become more robust, help authors will need to learn how to effectively integrate content from those sources into the help. Also, technical writers will need to clarify their role in working with user-generated content. Should writers participate in these discussions? How can user content be leveraged for filling in gaps in the help? Technical writers will need to help answer these questions to provide a more thorough and seamless experience for users.
These are just a few technical writing skills I think we'll all be developing in the near future. Many of us are struggling with these issues already.
I'm sure this could become a rather large list. Please comment if you have something to add.
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5 comments:
So far, I addressed only the first item on your list: multimedia. For my last two user guides I planned to generate at least one 1-min movie per topic/chapter.
However, I haven't done so.
This is certainly a barrier I'll have to cross one of these days :)
(I'm not even sure what to show on the movie(s).
The UI is self-explanatory, and the logic is well viewed on Visio.)
I'd like to see more multimedia (such as flash tutorials) in help and technical "writing." It probably takes half the amount of time to watch a quick tutorial than to read it.
Yes, I think multimedia will replace a lot of complicated written procedures. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a good demo must be worth ten thousand. Bandwidth and disk space are also becoming much cheaper, so the barriers to providing multimedia are disappearing quickly.
Do any of you have a favorite tool for capturing multimedia demos and tutorials? I've worked with Captivate and find it very intuitive and fun to work with.
Thanks for your comments, Avi and Susan!
There's definitely more drive from the rest of our business to produce video demos. However, I'm sure they're keen primarily because of the marketing benefits.
Producing videos (even sans voice) takes time in our already stretched department.
Saying all this though, I did get the chance to produce a video using Madcap Mimic recently. Very well received by the rest of the business (no idea how well recieved by the customers).
Rob, I think your situation is indicative of how most shops are using multimedia. While users are catching on slowly to their use in help, Marketing and Sales teams are taking advantage of demos as sales tools.
It makes sense. Demos are a great way to give users a feel for the product, and technical writers are perfect for ensuring that the demos reflect the actual workflow.
Yep, it's one more project added to our already busy schedules! But I guess they're fun compared to some of the stuff we work on.
Mimic, eh? Sounds like MadCap put together another great tool.
Thanks for your comment, Rob!
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